The Cop Killer

by Harry Nankin

  The younger man with him was aged around 25 years and he was dressed in an identical manner, he didn’t speak but just sniggered

  Receiving no response the fat biker walked closer then halted as the assistant arrived at the counter and called out, number 22.

  This caused both men to turn and pick up their meals; the older man caught hold of the girl by the front of her blouse and said

  “You fucking dink”. “Next time we come in and you ask for money for this shit I will spread you all the way from here to China”.

  With that he thrust the young girl away, she got up and ran off crying.

  He turned his attention to Doris, “You, looks like you are a fucking dink like her; maybe I will give you the same treatment. He approached Doris a step closer as he did so she held out her arm with fist clenched and as he drew near his stomach was pressing again her clenched fist.

  “Now that is unfriendly you chinky bitch, he stepped back and turned to the counter, in a moment he turned again and threw the contents of a plastic cup into her face. The smell indicated it was curry sauce.

  She moved to the left and so the main contents missed her face but the remnants slide down her coat.

  The man lunged forward to grab her but in a flash she swivelled and as she did so, her now bent elbow struck him in the solar plexus and he sank to his knees.

  The other man seeing what had happened produced a knife and surged forward, as he lunged towards Doris a high kick caught the knife sending it into air so that it was sticking from the ceiling.

  In just as quick motion as her foot came down, she spun and the young man was struck in the chest and before he realised it he was lying on the floor.

  Both men struggled to their feet and as they did Doris was standing, both her arms held upright in front of her, obviously ready for more action. The older man called out to her.

  “Enough, no more”.

  Jack the hat witnessing what had happened arrived inside the shop by which time Doris had removed her coat exposing her shirtsleeve order white shirt.

  The three members of staff who had now arrived behind the counter one armed with a clean cloth holding it out towards Doris.

  All three looked at Doris, then at each other, and then all three bowed. Doris hesitated, and then returned the bow.

  Proceedings were interrupted when the police already called by the staff arrived in the guise of Sergeant Striker and two Constables.

  “What’s going on here?” said Striker.

  “These men they frighten off my customers, they no pay for their meals and they throw curry sauce over this lady” said the older of the shop staff.

  “Ah you Doris” shouted Striker “I thought you were going home not getting involved in this shit, I suggest you do just that, I will speak with you tomorrow.”

  Now you two, Constables Roberts and Davies pick up and arrest these two shit heads and take them into the van. We will deal with them Mr China man I suppose they went to attack you before you gave them the treatment. I wouldn’t want to have to arrest you for assaulting them”.

  “Thank you sergeant” said the shop manager who in truth had not understood a word Striker had said.

  “I say Jack the hat”, called Striker “a bit out of your league this isn’t it?” Normally used to sitting around a desk eh”.

  Jack the hat neither commented nor reacted visually just closed the door and left the shop.

  Once back in the car it had not gone far when Jack the hat spoke.

  “You seemed handy in there I must say”

  “Mr Richards, when you are only five feet two inches in height, weigh less than seven stone, have slit eyes and known as “Dopey Doris” it is prudent to be able to take care of ones self, should the need arise, of course”.

  “Ah yes I would agree with that, and you certainly seem to be able to do that, Inspector”.

  “The shop staff, saw the bow what is the relevance of that?”

  “Oh I suspect they were just grateful”, she replied.

  He made no comment but thought to himself “Maybe but I don’t think so”.

  The remainder of the journey was uneventful.

  Arriving in the house, Anne asked

  “Have a busy day Jack?"

  “Just middling” he replied

  A clear message he did not wish to speak further upon the subject.

  Doris arrived at her house and went directly to the bathroom, showered, changed and in a moment was watching the television and eating her curry, not like how her grandmother made it in China but not too bad, better than she could do.

  The day was done time to sit and relax before bed and yet another day.

  “One thing” thought Doris “this job was neither repetitive nor mundane. What tomorrow would bring was unknown”.

  PART NINE

  THE SUSPECT

  The following day on arrival at the Museum Jack typed out his statement of evidence and when Doris arrived, he gave it to her

  “That is all I saw”, he said, “You acted so quick it was hard to take in”.

  “Thanks” she said. “I will pop over to the nick and hand this in and dictate mine whilst I am there”.

  In a moment, she was gone.

  Arriving at the front counter she didn’t have far to go for Sergeant Striker was speaking with the Chief Super

  “What can I do for you Ling? Is Sherlock Holmes not with you?”

  Both men laughed.

  Doris replied, “I have just brought his statement of evidence over regarding last night, I will do mine here".

  Striker looked at her then said looking at the Chief Super, “if you will excuse me sir, I will just deal with this”.

  “Oh of course, carry on Striker” He turned and left the room his footsteps could be heard running upstairs.

  “Now Ling, what’s this nonsense about statements, for what?”

  “Last night Sergeant the trouble at the take away”.

  “The trouble last night”, he repeated. “Trouble; there was no trouble just a couple of boisterous lads having a night out, no need for statements”,

  “What about the custody sheet?” She asked

  “What custody sheet?” “They weren’t locked up just taken home and given a boot up the arse, which if you were anything of a copper you would have given them, now you run along and make me a mug of coffee.”

  “Yes sergeant” she replied and went towards the kitchen

  “Oh Ling”, called Striker, “Make me a good un just like the Chief Super gets or is he something special”? He continued, “You know what I mean, a bit special like”.

  She made no reply and went to the kitchen made the coffee spat into the cup and returned with it.

  Striker took hold and had a long drink, making a loud slurping noise followed by a louder, “ahhhh, just the job what a good brew, anytime you got more of this let me know”.

  She smiled and said “Sergeant you are well assured every drink I make for you it will be just like that one”.

  “Ah, Ah”, called Striker “and the rest the Chief Super gets, will that be coming my way”?

  She made no comment but left.

  On arrival back in their office in the museum she was a little upset, Jack the hat arrived to ask something then seeing her he guessed what had happened but asked

  “What happened”?

  “Striker cuffed it; he said he took them home, nothing on the sheet”.

  ”I see, well never mind I suspect just about now both men will be waking up with very sore ribs. There is that consolation, what about Striker, just as obnoxious?”

  She nodded but made no reply. Jack the hat returned to his office and sat down at his desk and thought, “Striker, when ignorance is bliss vulgarity appropriately asserts itself”.

  He stood, went to the hat stand and removed his trilby, “ah”, he thought “the brown one today I think, I bought it when, now let me think about 1970 after the case of the child molester. Yep, that was a ho
rrid case, one of the only ones I worked on with Woodcock, that shit head signed the Cheshire petition against me.

  Fully clothed in hat and raincoat equally as old as each other he picked up his brief case, closed the office door, locked it and put the keys inside his brief case.

  “Inspector, if you are ready we will be off to see these two poor women”.

  “I am just in the loo” she called.

  There was answer to that he thought.

  The telephone rang in the office, “blast” he thought “who the hell is that, I had better answer it in case it’s one or more of the widows cancelling”.

  He went to open the door then realised he had locked it, he opened his brief case, could he find the key, no, then in his rush he dropped the bloody case.

  He bent down and was hastily attempting to pick up the items. At last, he found the key opened the door and picked up the telephone just as it stopped ringing.

  “Hell” he said, then dialled 1471. The voice gave the number 01978222222; he knew it was a police station with a number like that. He pressed recall and when the voice said there was a charge for connecting the call he thought of Woodcock signing the petition and so in revenge incurred the expense to be automatically reconnected the cost of which be coming from Woodcock’s miscellaneous allowance budget.

  “Police at Wrexham, who is speaking please”? Was the voice he heard.

  “It is Jack Richards”.

  “Oh yes indeed Mr Richards isn’t it, well now Idris has been calling you, now just hold the line please”.

  “Constable Idris Roberts yer, who is that please?”

  “It is Jack Richards, Constable Roberts; do you have an update on this Sid fellow?”

  “I do indeed Sir, but as you are not a police officer I am unable to pass you my report”

  “What did you say officer, are you aware that I am in charge of this investigation?”

  “That may well be the case Sir, but rules are rules police records can only be passed within those in the job see”.

  Before he could become even more exasperated Doris arrived, “Is there a problem Mr Richards?”

  “Please deal with this wooden top he won’t pass me the information”.

  “Inspector Scott-Ling here, have to you an update on the Sid fellow?”

  She was sometime listening and then said. “Right thank you; send an email to me at the address on the card I gave you. Thank you for you enquiries, pardon, yes I will pass on what you say”.

  She replaced the handset looked up and said, “Idris says the Wooden Tops went out years ago when he was a boy”.

  She went to the computer, opened it then printed out the message, she did not read it but handed it to Jack assuming, correctly that was the correct thing to do.

  He took the sheet of paper and they both left, once seated in her car they were on their way. As they travelled through the town negotiating the various traffic lights, which seemed to take an eternity to change to their favour. He read the report Constable Roberts had gathered in respect of Sid.

  “Cedric Royston Morgan, Alias Sid, born in 1971 now 42 years of age, a native of Cardiff in South Wales. A single man, he received an elementary education leaving school at the age of 16 years”.

  “On leaving school he joined a group of travellers and first came to police attention in the year 1991 when he was convicted of robbery involving antiques, he was sentenced to 7 years. He was released on licence in 1994”

  “In August 1995 he was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for assaulting a police officer at a football match, he served only one year and was released on licence”.

  “He then returned to life amongst Irish travellers but during a police raid on their encampment in 1997 he stabbed a police officer and was sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempted murder. He served 4 years before being released on licence in 2001”.

  “He disappeared from police notice until the year 2003 when he was involved in an armed robbery in which two security officers were badly injured. Morgan was himself shot by a police marksman and when recovered he was sentenced to a further 10 years, he served only 3 years.”

  “He was released on licence in the year 2006 pending a training course at a local hospital in that year.”

  “Since his release he has attended the rehabilitation course and currently works in the same place.”

  “He remains an assistant in the hospital dispensary at Wrexham General Hospital where he is described as a quiet man, loyal and good worker”.

  “There is a cautionary note on his file at New Scotland yard, which reads. He has a known pathological hate of police officers since the incident in which he was shot”.

  He read the file to her, she shook her head and said, “It’s the same old story, a repeat offender repeated offences all serious, I suppose now he appears to have settled at the hospital that is something, what do you think?”

  “What do I think?” Said Jack, “I think that we need to keep one eye on this fellow.”

  “I see he appears to have gone quiet which reminds me of the old saying.”

  “Take care of still waters and quiet men”.

  “I wonder how the hell Wendy Upton came to get involved with him”. Asked Doris,

  “I would imagine she was lonely and it seems he has changed, outwardly at least and of course there is no way she would know anything of his record. Clearly he wasn’t married to the lady who kicked him out”.

  “That is true,” she said.

  “Well keep the contents of this under wraps and contact this Idris copper, he won’t` speak with me and tell him the same. I suspect if this Sid or whatever name he is using gets wind of the fact we are asking about him he might just kick up some dust and we don’t need any clouds of dust or anything else at the moment”.

  “I will contact Idris but if you didn’t know, in Wales it is renowned for gossip and if Idris has been asking around locally it won’t take long for the word to get out”.

  “We are here now, you can probably tell from the area”

  “Yes” he said, “Grim, very grim”.

  They left the car and approached the first house, that of Bob Friday but as they did so the door opened next-door causing Doris to say.

  “That is Rachel Friday, she is waving us inside, I will hazard a guess they are both in there, a moral support thing”.

  “I suspect you are correct, we will try it together after all they are not suspects”.

  “Hello Mrs Friday you remember me?”

  “I do indeed, Inspector Ling”

  “Ah well yes”, replied Doris not making an issue of the fact she had forgotten the Scott bit.

  “Please come in”.

  They both went inside, Doris said, “Mrs Friday and you Rachel may I introduce to you Mr Jack Richards a retired Detective Superintendent from New Scotland Yard who has been asked by the powers to be to look a little further into the death of both your lads and several others similar”.

  There was a surprise, for Wendy was holding a new borne babe, she said, “Welcome, I always thought it was murder”

  “Well now” said Jack, “may we take a seat?”

  “Oh of course please do” said Rachel, “I am so sorry not to have asked you, it’s the stress of it all, you being from Scotland Yard and that”.

  Jack and Doris sat down and she said, “How old is the Baby?”

  “Its only four weeks old, Wendy, I called him Reg after his Granddad”.

  “Very nice too, I hadn’t realised when I came before, you were expecting”, replied Doris.

  “Well no I wasn’t showing you see at that time”

  “Right” said Jack; “I have checked the police records of both officers so I don’t have many questions. Can either of you recall anything that might give you rise to believe that someone had it in for either of the men, in particular anything to do with any sort of drug or family weakness”.

  “Well” said, Rachel “I know for certain there is some heart
problems in our family. Bob’s father died aged only 50 years of age from a heart attack”.

  “Well there is nothing as far as I know in Sid’s family for I have been in touch with them, you know to safe guard the baby and there is nothing”.

  “Mrs Friday” asked Jack, “there seems a gap for several years of what Bob was doing before he joined the police, can you shed any light on that”.

  “Well not really you see he had a spell shall I say he was disillusioned, he left home for a year or two when he came back he never would say what he had been up to. When he came back he went straight into the police and they gave him this house”

  “I see” said Jack, “What about you Mrs Upton same thing it seems there is a gap in what Sid was up to before joining the Police”

  “I am sorry”. “We only met after he was in the Police I met him a few weeks before we were married. We met believe it or not in Chester when I was in this religious group; I play the guitar you know. We had some hassle from some yobs one Saturday morning and my dear Sid came to the rescue”.

  “So there is nothing at all nothing suspicious, no doubts or anything”, he asked, feeling despondent, he could almost feel the egg running off his face.

  “No not really, only that woman you remember Wendy, that woman came knocking wanting to see Bob, you thought at first he had been having it off”.

  “Oh yes, I recall it now”

  “Tell me more,” said Jack.

  “There is not much to tell”, replied Wendy, “we were sitting here one day when a knock came on the door, Sid got up and answered it. The next moment I saw him on the path speaking with this very nice looking woman. The next moment Bob came from next door and joined the conversation. After a few minutes, the woman left and I saw the two lads speaking with each other and shaking their heads. I assumed it was some woman who either Sid or Bob or both might have been having an affair with, she was really nice looking”.

  “When Sid came inside he looked a bit pale, put on his coat and left together with Bob. I asked both of them about it later but they just said it was a police thing and the woman had come to the house pestering them. They went down to the nick and it was all resolved. I never heard from her or saw her again and the blokes never spoke of it. To tell you the truth round here people often visit police houses to speak with officers, that is the way it is.